prepping for a tour - whats the list of maintenance?

[twobone]

Before I go on a 700 mile tour in my 4 speed xflow, what should I get done? What am I missing?:

 

-Oil change

-Coolant change

-Check gear and axle oil level

-Check wheel bearing play

-Wheel nut torque settings

-Check for poorly wrapped electrical connections

 

What should I bring in my little tool box out of the ordinary?

[slomove]

AAA-plus membership card and a roll of duct tape :smilielol5:

 

But seriously, this is useful. For weekend trips I just carry a tool bag with selected content that has proven to be useful over a few years, and some wire, hose clamps, sealant etc. I have not actually used much of that while touring but was able to loan it to several people who were driving without. On longer tours to the middle of nowhere I also take spare belts and a PC for the ECU.

[Croc]

My regular tool kit in a Sparco tool bag that goes behind the seats includes:

- tire weld as I have no spare

- tire repair kit (plug, tool and sealant/glue)

- array of allen keys, compact interchangeable screwdriver set

- silicone tape (great for hose leaks)

- electrical tape

- duct tape

- cable ties

- wire (for exhausts or other jobs to be wired up)

- fuel tank sealer (JB weld)

- silicone sealer

- WD40

- spare oil for engine (it eats it!)

- variety of spare fuses/relay

- assort small container of screws, washers, nuts

- utility knife

- small multimeter

- old juice/gatorade container to empty oil catch tank

- 3 small rolls of electrical wire plus crimper

- some clean rags

- tire gauge

- torque wrench

- rechargeable LED work light/torch

- 2 x hose clamps of varying size

- pliers/multigrips/adjustable spanner

- nylon belt

- 2 x octopus straps (not sure what people call them in the US?)

- 2 x panty hose - good for temporarily replacing belts

- sometimes I will throw the battery charger in - its only small. Or I will throw in my porta-battery that can jump start the car through the 12V plug between the seats. Helps when I inevitably leave my headlights on...

- spare throttle cable

 

The time I really broken down badly where my tool kit could not get me home was when the contents of my radiator were draining quickly and I had no spare coolant and could not seal up a hole that big.

 

So the biggest tool in the seven (apart from this driver :rofl:) is as Gert said, the AAA card. It rescued me when all else failed. I have the platinum membership which gives me 200 miles of free towing back home. Just remember to take your cell phone.

 

Otherwise, I am a big believer in preparing ahead of time so that nothing is left to chance.

Edited August 3, 2012 by Croc

[ihckb2]

The best thing is to do preventative maintenance and know your car and its faults.

I just finished a 3500km tour with the British Car Club of BC and most of the problems that people had was due to lack of maintenance.

Two of the 26 cars had wheel bearings seize, now if thats not lack of maintenance.

Electrical problems big time, of course we are talking British Cars.

Exhaust systems falling off due too low clearance. We had a number of small ferries to go on and off.

Lack of knowledge of how to fix your car. This is a big one. Its surprising how many people know very little about how to fix their car. They have a mechanic at home that works on it and this is their saviour. Unfortunately the mechanic does not come with them. One car spent 3 days on a flatdeck going from garage to garage trying to stay with the group. After many hours of fellow members helping out as well along the way. Finally made the wise choice and flatbedded the car home.

Only you know what you should include in your tool kit for your car. Obviously you can't be prepared for any failure but know the weakness points of your car and plan for that.

You can't predict a blown radiator, but when was the last time you flushed it or pressure tested it? When was the last time you changed your hoses? When was the last time you jacked up the car and spun the wheels, checked the front wheels bearings etc.etc.

Do your maintenance, know your car, and take the basic tools and parts you need. Chances are you will be helping someone else with your spare parts and knowledge.

Always have a filter on the fuel line prior to the pump, be it electrical or mechanical, I can't believe how many car owners don,t have this.

[jlumba81]

Tools I've had to use was:

-Pocket knife

25 deg F, 2am, softbits top and desperate to wire up my heated jacket. Also used to open up a faulty wiper switch and brake light switch

-Electrical tape

Used on heated jacket wiring

-Flashlight, both handheld and head mounted.

Used when working on heated jacket wiring and on headlight. Also used to see speedo at night when wiper switch went into dash and I blew a fuse trying to push it back out.

-Duct tape

Pitch black 10pm and headlight nut worked loose. I didn't have a big enough wrench. Also used to seal rear window when the full weather top rear window zipper came apart, held up to 70mph. Blew out at 80mph. Also used to tape cellphone to steering wheel to use the gps.

-Garmin Gps

Lost cellphone coverage and also gps service.

-Jumper/booster pack

Headlights left on

-2 gal or 2.5 gal gas can fit nicely in the boot. Also easier to pour than a 5 gal.

Avoid truck routes unless confident in knowing your fuel range. I was an owner for 4 days and gps said it was the fastest route. I think I had .5-1 gal in the tank before I found a gas station.

-Air compressor + Tire psi gauge

Quick fix to make bumpy/wavy highways liveable. Went from 20psi to 12psi to make the ride smooth out.

 

Other than that Croc worked out most of the bugs. Also window cleaner for the bugs come in handy this time of year.

[slomove]

I think most of the listed items in the previous posts should cover it. Problem is that you just can not prepare for everything and there is always a risk to get stranded. But that is part of the adventure.

 

After doing 4 long tours (USA2005, PNW2007, Rockies 2009, Black Hills 2011) and numerous shorter ones with total >25,000 miles I remember following failures (out of a larger population of cars):

- ripped oil sump on USA2005 (some other driver had miraculously a spare)

- other oil loss (engine loss, too)

- several wiring failures (could all be identified and fixed)

- several exhaust and exhaust bracket cracks (could all be fixed with local shops)

- lots of leaking hoses (hose clamps and other temporary measures got them home)

- leaking oil pan (black silicone is your friend)

- broken fuel pump (local auto store)

- broken wing stay on my car (hose clamp band aids)

- broken alternator (needed spare part shipping)

- broken starter (needed spare part shipping)

- broken alternator regulator (no action, battery survived)

- cracked rim/rock damage (needed spare part shipping)

- flat tires (oh, well)

- couple of law enforcement encounters (no permanent damage)

 

After all, few really serious ones and those were hard to predict or prepare for.

Edited August 3, 2012 by slomove

[Croc]

The best thing is to do preventative maintenance and know your car and its faults.

 

Such a good statement it needs to be repeated again. :cooldude:

 

 

 

Lack of knowledge of how to fix your car. This is a big one. Its surprising how many people know very little about how to fix their car. They have a mechanic at home that works on it and this is their saviour. Unfortunately the mechanic does not come with them.

 

While I agree with this, some of the more modern sevens are getting beyond the ability of a casual mechanic to repair given their increasing complexity.

 

My original S2 could be fixed easily and simply - I think I pulled it apart 5 times and rebuilt the Ford 1200 engine at least 3 times - very easy to do. I could perform any manner of bodge to get me home.

 

My next Zetec SV was far more complex and the electrical wiring was a pain. It took about a year of fettling to make it reliably happy and even then it had the wiper and headlight switch fail for JLumba when he was driving the 4000m home to Alaska (sorry Jude - I thought I prevented the faults).

 

Now my current CSR Cosworth is like a black box. Sealed engine, locked electronics, some black boxes which took a few phone calls to the UK to understand what they were. Increasingly the only way to repair some of the newer cars with some faults is truck them home to get a mechanic and his trusty laptop to interogate it. The other aspect of the newer Caterham cars which is truly disturbing is the quality is worse than ever. I have had front wheel bearings fail in less than 3000 miles from brand new on the CSR - poor quality manufacture. My brake hoses were not rated for brakes and the fluid seeped through and got the paint in the engine bay. My fuel hoses perished in 12 months from new - splits and cracks. While I check for this stuff regularly, too many people new to sevens think it is like their Honda and assume it will just work.

 

The UK Lotus Seven Club has a Getting To Know Your Seven Program at Caterham dealerships along with a manual. That would be a good offerring for new seven owners in Canada and the US if it were available.

[Dave W]

After looking at slomove's list, I'm not complaining about 2 exhaust hangers, a water pump, and a windshield, in 22,000 miles. But I think I'm going to check my fuel lines this weekend!

Dave W

[Kitcat]

X-flows use up hoses and engine mounts pretty regularly, mite be a good time to replace? I always carried a jug of antifreeze mix. And tighten bolts/nuts/screws (my taillight fell off once, never thot to check its tightness). Front suspension came loose on one 1300 mile trip. Never is good when car starts steering itself. I had tightened all before the trip except one impossible to reach bolt on each side of front suspension. So naturally both came loose. On a Sunday, before a track day that was part of the trip, when all auto parts stores in rural PA were closed. My Garmin GPS lead me to a farm supply store that had just the tool I needed. Cell phones are great, IF you are not too rural, as I was when my throttle linkage failed. So check that for loose play, it is adjustable and can be tightened. My X-flow Cat used a throttle cable that pushed the throttle lever. And it broke where the cable attached to the arm. After that I carried a spare t-cable and the little cylinder that attached it to the arm next to the carb (I fixed my problem by connecting the t-cable and arm with elec tape-drove it 500 miles that way).

Edited August 3, 2012 by Kitcat

[JohnCh]

Croc's list is pretty comprehensive. The only additions I carry that I can think of are:

- tire fill kit with extra CO2 cartridges in case I need to use the tire repair kit

- high performance bicycle pump for small tire pressure changes along the way.

- disposable painter's overalls, and some nitrile gloves in case I need to do a roadside repair.

 

Oh, and a good attitude is also important, because sh*t does and will happen (remember, Murphy and Sod were both optimists.) Unfortunately for me though, I generally forget to pack that item.

 

-John

[BusaNostra]

money !

as long as that plastic has room to swipe, no worry on 700 miles and back

[readysetgo]

Now that we've covered everything to take....Where are you going? Are you staying in Ontario?

[Croc]

- disposable painter's overalls, and some nitrile gloves in case I need to do a roadside repair.

-John

 

Obviously the overalls and gloves preserve your gorgeous clothes and freshly manicured hands? How about a hair dryer and brush to make sure you continue to have that freshly blown look? BTW...do you own a Miata? :jester:

[MHKflyer52]

Obviously the overalls and gloves preserve your gorgeous clothes and freshly manicured hands? How about a hair dryer and brush to make sure you continue to have that freshly blown look? BTW...do you own a Miata? :jester:

 

Croc that is too funny......"do you own a Miata"......

[slomove]

After looking at slomove's list, I'm not complaining about 2 exhaust hangers, a water pump, and a windshield, in 22,000 miles. But I think I'm going to check my fuel lines this weekend!

Dave W

 

Ahem....I hope you noticed it was mostly not my car with all the mishaps but several others I was touring with. If that all had happened to me I would have given up touring long time ago. My own car was mostly well behaved.

 

Another proven preventive maintenance item that is popular with the biker crowd. May help with Sevens, too ;-)

Edited August 3, 2012 by slomove

[timax]

The way these cars vibrate many things just shake loose. I use some bright paint to mark the position of many of my suspension bolts so that at every fuel stop i can just run my eyes over everything.

Also i carry a few spare nuts and bolts of the most common sizes. Failing that....cable ties and gaffa tape.

[JohnCh]

Obviously the overalls and gloves preserve your gorgeous clothes and freshly manicured hands? How about a hair dryer and brush to make sure you continue to have that freshly blown look? BTW...do you own a Miata? :jester:

 

Ooh that's right! I forgot to include the hair dryer, mousse, and Old Spice body wash in my earlier list. I never take my Birkin or Miata anywhere without them.

 

-John

[Croc]

Ooh that's right! I forgot to include the hair dryer, mousse, and Old Spice body wash in my earlier list. I never take my Birkin or Miata anywhere without them.

 

-John

 

:rofl::rofl::rofl: I forgot the Old Spice!

 

Is it true that you are a really slow driver as your loafers are a little light on the throttle pedal? Or is that just a stereotype? :jester:

[solder_guy]

😃😃😃

[JohnCh]

Is it true that you are a really slow driver as your loafers are a little light on the throttle pedal? Or is that just a stereotype? :jester:

 

The helium filled loafers were a failed attempt at weight reduction to offset my distinct lack of talent behind the wheel. They do look marvelous though.

 

-John